Milford man stabbed, another arrested

Michael P. Mayko

Updated 12:45 am, Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Police investigate outside a home on Lafayette Street, in Milford, Conn. following a stabbing June 3, 2014. Gustave Meyers, 21, was arrested at the scene for his alleged involvement in the altercation. He is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. Three people were injured in the incident.
Photo: Ned Gerard

Police investigate outside a home on Lafayette Street, in Milford, Conn. following a stabbing June 3, 2014. Gustave Meyers, 21, was arrested at the scene for his alleged involvement in the altercation. He is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. Three people were injured in the incident.
Photo: Ned Gerard

Police investigate outside a home on Lafayette Street, in Milford, Conn. following a stabbing June 3, 2014. Gustave Meyers, 21, was arrested at the scene for his alleged involvement in the altercation. He is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace. Three people were injured in the incident.
Photo: Ned Gerard

MILFORD -- It began Monday with an angry argument that led to a father ordering his 20-year-old daughter out of her home.

It ended early Tuesday morning when the father angrily confronted the girl's boyfriend of 10 months and was stabbed in the stomach and back during a vicious, profanity-laden early morning brawl in which several punches were thrown and four people injured, police said.

Now, Michael Meahan, the girl's 49-year-old father is in stable condition at Yale-New Haven Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for separate stab wounds in his back and stomach.

His 20-year-old daughter, Melissa, was treated at the same hospital for a cut on her hand received, she said, while trying to break up the fight.

Her boyfriend, Gustave Meyers, 21, of Lafayette Street, was arrested after telling police he stabbed Michael Meahan in self-defense with a small pocket knife. He was charged with first-degree assault and breach of peace. Meyers was released on $75,000 bond late Tuesday afternoon.

Both Meyers and his friend, Kyle Lydem, 20, who also tried to break up the fight, were treated and released from Milford Hospital for contusions and cuts they claim resulted from Michael Meehan's haymakers.

"The whole thing was bad," Lydem said. "He caught me in the face a few times."

Lydem said he intends to file assault charges against Meahan.

Police were still at the 31 Lafayette St. home, not far from the city's downtown and Milford Hospital, late Tuesday afternoon searching for evidence. They were using a metal detector to try to find the pocket knife. They also carted Meahan's silver Jeep Wrangler away.

Meyers told police he and Melissa Meahan were involved in a minor motor vehicle accident a few days ago in which her car was damaged. It was not certain if that led to Tuesday's brawl.

He also told police he called the father around midnight and they were arguing on the phone.

Lydem said he was sleeping at Meyers' apartment when his friend awakened him around 1 a.m. Tuesday. That's about the time, Lydem said, Meahan drove his Jeep onto the grass, charged out of the car and grabbed Meyers by the throat.

"I didn't know what was going on," Lydem said. "He (Meahan) just lost his mind. He was flipping out."

Lydem said he tried to get separate the two, only to get pummelled.

"He's (Meahan) a lot bigger than me," Lydem said. "I never met him before. I never talked to him."

Popilowski, a former public defender now working for Hugh Keefe's law firm in New Haven, advised the judge that Meyers is a lifelong Milford resident and gainfully employed.

Iannotti set June 17 for Meyers' next court appearance and imposed an order prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with Meahan or his girlfriend -- "even if she contacts you."

Afterward, Popilowski said, based on Lydem's claims, "I think there should be enough for police to arrest" Meahan.

Meyers does have a 2013 arrest by the Statewide Narcotics Task Force for possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school. That case is pending in Bridgeport's Golden Hill Street courthouse, with June 19 as his next appearance.

In April, Meyers was issued infractions by Milford police for possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana, creating a public disturbance and possession of alcohol by a minor. Those charges are pending in the lower court here.

Lydem attended Meyers' Tuesday court appearance with three other friends, including Chris Andersen.

Lydem sported cuts above his nose and left eye and bumps on his forehead and atop his head.

He said they came from Meahan's punches.

"He was still swinging when he was bleeding," Lydem said.

Police said Meahan was unaware he was stabbed until he observed blood.